Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Professions: Regulation

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) new powers, and (2) opportunities for regulatory autonomy, will be available to regulators following the passage of the Professional Qualifications Bill.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The Professional Qualifications Bill will ensure that regulators can determine whether individuals with overseas qualifications can practise in the UK, where this will enable demand for the services of a profession to be met.The Bill also contains a power which will enable an appropriate national authority to authorise regulators to enter into recognition agreements with counterparts from other countries where they do not already have the power to do so. Recognition agreements, agreed by regulators, will ensure that UK professionals are able to seize the opportunities of international trade.It is the Government’s intention that the Bill will not interfere with regulators’ autonomy to determine independently which overseas qualified professionals can practise in the UK.

Department of Health and Social Care

Long Covid

The Lord Bishop of London: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to collect, and (2) to report, data on the number of people affected by long-COVID alongside the data on hospitalisations and death.

Lord Bethell: We are developing our understanding of ‘long’ COVID-19, including collecting the numbers of people affected and methods of reporting. Currently, the Office for National Statistics collects and publishes data on prevalence of ongoing symptoms following COVID-19 infection in the United Kingdom. From September 2021 activity data on referral, assessments and waiting times for post-COVID-19 assessment clinics and the patient journey, including the use of Your COVID Recovery, will be published on a monthly basis.

Department for Education

Askham Bryan College: Grants

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government when Askham Bryan College of York’s application for a grant for a calf and grower teaching building for cattle was (1) submitted, and (2) approved; how much funding was provided; and on what date.

Baroness Berridge: Askham Bryan College’s application for capital funds to support the development of a calf and grower teaching building for cattle was included in the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology proposal which was submitted on 21 November 2018.The Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology proposal was approved on 7 November 2019.Within the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology proposal, Askham Bryan College were approved to receive £1,746,448 capital funds.Askham Bryan College have been paid £489,880 to date. The balance of funding, £1,256,568, is due to be paid in this financial year (2021/22).

Ministry of Justice

Marriage: Humanism

Baroness Featherstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of legally recognising humanist marriages on choice for same-sex couples wanting to get married.

Baroness Featherstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have undertakeninterim civil marriage reform to legislate for outdoor weddings but have not done the same for humanist marriages.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The Marriage (Same Sex) Couples Act 2013 enables same-sex couples to have a civil marriage and also allows religious organisations to opt in to marry same-sex couples, should they wish to do so. Separately, Government consulted in 2014 on marriages by non-religious belief organisations. A summary assessment of costs and benefits was published in the response, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/marriages-by-non-religious-belief-organisations. The Government in 2019 committed to accelerate plans to allow civil weddings and civil partnerships to be held outside and said it would look to implement these changes through secondary legislation, subject to any necessary consultation. On 1 July, time limited amending regulations came into force to allow couples who can already legally marry to have their civil wedding ceremony in the linked outdoor areas of Approved Premises. The Government will undertake a public consultation on these measures and intends to produce an Impact Assessment. A further instrument will be laid in Spring 2022. A Law Commission project on marriage and civil partnership is due to report later this year and is expected to present recommendations for wholesale reform to the law governing marriage ceremonies, which the Government will consider carefully. Options being explored by the Law Commission as part of their review include offering couples greater flexibility over the form of their ceremony, allowing the ceremony to take place in a much broader range of locations and to provide a framework that could allow non-religious belief organisations, such as Humanists and independent celebrants, to conduct legally binding weddings. The Government will decide on provision for non-religious belief marriage in light of the Law Commission's recommendations.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to add Turkey to their list of human rights priority countries.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The decision on whether a country is designated a Human Rights Priority Country (HRPC) is based on the human rights situation in the country; trajectory of change; and the UK's potential to work on human rights and have influence. The list of HRPCs is published in the Government's annual human rights report. As regards the list of HRPCs, we keep all countries, including Turkey, under regular review.The UK has been consistently active and vocal in promoting human rights in Turkey through diplomatic and ministerial channels, and through support to civil society. We also use relevant multilateral institutions, such as the Council of Europe, to emphasise the importance of shared values and accountability. Respect for human rights are vital for the long-term health of Turkish democracy and will remain at the heart of our policy towards Turkey.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will meet the government of Israel to express concern about (1) house demolitions, and (2) forced evictions, of Palestinian communities.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK regularly raises the issue of demolitions and forced evictions of Palestinians from their homes with the Government of Israel. The Foreign Secretary raised ongoing evictions, demolitions and settlement activity with the Israeli Authorities during his visit to the region on 26 May. The UK is clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolitions and evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law.

Jordan and Lebanon: Refugees

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of refugees sheltered by (1) Lebanon, and (2) Jordan, relative to the (a) population size, and (b) economic resources, of those countries; and what plans they have to provide assistance to (i) the UNHCR, and (ii) refugee-hosting countries, to resettle refugees and close refugee camps.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK recognises the tremendous generosity Lebanon and Jordan have shown in hosting significant numbers of refugees. Lebanon currently hosts 1.7 million refugees, the highest concentration of refugees per capita anywhere in the world. Jordan hosts approximately 667,000 registered Syrian refugees, 90,000 non-Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR, and 2.2 million Palestinian refugees.Recognising the substantial pressures both host countries face, the UK and international partners have provided significant assistance to the Lebanese and Jordanian governments to help manage this challenge. The UK is one of the leading donors in supporting Lebanon in hosting both Syrian and Palestinian refugee, and has contributed over £704 million in bilateral development assistance to Jordan since 2011. The UK's pledge of at least £205 million to the Syrian crisis in 2021 will ensure the UK continues to support the most vulnerable in Lebanon and Jordan, allowing refugees to live in safety and with dignity until they are able to return home.On 25th February we completed our commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS). We continue to welcome refugees through the global UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), as well as through the Community Sponsorship and Mandate Resettlement Schemes.

Jerusalem: Palestinians

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of Israel about protecting Palestinians living in the Silwan area of East Jerusalemfrom having their homes demolished.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK regularly raises the issue of demolitions and forced evictions of Palestinians from their homes with the Government of Israel. The Foreign Secretary raised ongoing evictions, demolitions and settlement activity with the Israeli Authorities during his visit to the region on 26 May. The UK is clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. We monitor the situation in Silwan closely, and officials regularly visit and attend related court hearings.

Greece and Middle East: Refugees

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of refugee children in (1) Lebanon, (2) Jordan, (3) Turkey, and (4) Greece, who are not receiving primary education; and what assessment they have made of the steps necessary to improve (a) the availability, and (b) uptake, of education for these children.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to providing refugee children with access to quality education. In Lebanon, since 2011 we have provided education to over 280,000 children, and support to over 135,500 out-of-school boys and girls with nonformal education since 2016. In Jordan, the UK has supported over 130,000 Syrian refugee children access primary education. Approximately 85,000 Syrian refugee children remain without any type of learning. The Government does not hold figures for refugee children not receiving primary education in Turkey or Greece. As of March 2021, the EU Managed Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT), to which the UK is a leading contributor, had allocated €400 million to the "Promoting Integration of Syrian Kids into the Turkish Education System" project that has 627,582 Syrian students enrolled at public schools and 9,288 enrolled at Temporary Education Centres. In Greece, UK support has helped deliver educational programmes for vulnerable children and we will continue to work with Greek partners to identify opportunities to provide further support.

China: Prisoners' Release

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ask the government of China to release the Catholic priests and seminarians arrested in Xinxiang in May.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China, including the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners. The Foreign Secretary has personally raised our serious concerns with his Chinese counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a number of occasions, most recently on 27 May. We are also aware of the concerning reports that Catholic priests were arrested in Xinxiang in May, and will continue to monitor developments. We remain committed to working with our international partners to stand up for the rights of all religious minorities in China.

Conflict Resolution

Baroness Sugg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what contributionlandmine clearance will make to the achievement of the aim set out in the Integrated Review that the UK will be seen globally as a leader in conflict prevention and resolution.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK's mine action investments are a vital part of our global effort to promote conflict prevention and resolution. We invested £124 million to help clear deadly explosive devices worldwide in the last three years through the Global Mine Action Programme 2. This funding has cleared and confirmed safe 394 million square metres, the equivalent of over 55,000 football pitches, and delivered UK commitments under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Cluster Munitions Convention.In financial year 2021/22 we will remain a leading donor in this sector.

Convention on Cluster Munitions

Baroness Sugg: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will set out the UK's prioritiesfor its upcoming term as president of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The United Kingdom expects to take on the Presidency of the Convention on Cluster Munitions from 22 September. We are developing an action plan for how we can best use the Presidency to support our disarmament objectives and show our multilateral leadership. The plan will be finalised in the coming months.

Lithuania: Migrants

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) media reports that the government of Belarus is ‘weaponising’ migration by sending migrants to Lithuania, and (2) the government of Lithuania’s response to such action; and what plans they have to support the government of Lithuania with (a) technical aid, or (b) resettlement.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government is aware of media reports of an increase in people irregularly crossing the border from Belarus into Lithuania. We are also aware of the steps that the Lithuanian Government have taken to respond, including increasing funding to the Lithuanian State Border Guards, and expanding capacity at the border with Belarus to process those arriving across the border. The Foreign Secretary discussed the issue with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on 28 June, and officials are currently evaluating how best we can support the Lithuanian Government in response to these developments. We collaborate closely with the Lithuanian Government and Lithuanian State Border Guards, and stand ready to provide appropriate support. The UK remains committed to future close co-operation with the EU and our European partners on all issues including migration.

Ministry of Defence

HMS Defender: Black Sea

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Goldie on 6 July (HL 1576) and her remarks on 30 June (HL Deb, col 793) that HMS Defender was“conducting an innocent passage through a stretch of water open to international navigation”, what military operation HMS Defender was engaged in on the Black Sea on 23 June.

Baroness Goldie: HMS DEFENDER was in the Black Sea from 14 June - 2 July 2021 to conduct planned defence engagement activity with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Georgia as a disaggregated unit of the Carrier Strike Group. These events focused on the UK's commitment to Black Sea security through capability demonstrations and exercising with other NATO allies and partners who operate in the Black Sea.

Marines

Lord Burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the cost, and over what period, for the introduction of the Royal Marines Future Commando Force.

Baroness Goldie: A generous settlement of over £24 billion has allowed Defence to invest in amongst other things the delivery of the Future Commando Force and we will be spending in excess of an additional £200 million over ten years to support this. Other elements of the Royal Navy's programme, such as the future landing craft project, are funded to over £50 million. The wider ship building pipeline will also support the UK's Commando Forces.

Armed Forces: Coronavirus

Lord Coaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy in relation to UK armed forces personnel deployed overseas who refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; and whether such personnel are required to return to the UK.

Baroness Goldie: Defence's vaccination policy for all vaccines, is voluntary and administered under the principles of informed consent. Those who cannot or are refusing to take a COVID-19 vaccine would be subject to a risk assessment. If ineligible to deploy, they would be removed from the operational deployment and employed in an appropriate alternate role.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given, if any, to signing the Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Government recognises that reactive nitrogen has damaging impacts on habitats, water and air quality and contributes to climate change. The UK is committed to tackling nitrogen and has a variety of regulations, incentive schemes and advice in place to help reduce the sources and impact of nitrogen pollution. For example, the UK has adopted legally binding targets to reduce emissions of two nitrogen-containing air pollutants - ammonia and nitrogen oxides. The Clean Air Strategy sets out comprehensive action to control emissions of these pollutants which is expected to reduce damaging deposition of reactive forms of nitrogen by 17% over England’s protected priority sensitive habitats by 2030. The Government has been engaging with the International Nitrogen Management System and has been working at a regional level with the Government of Sri Lanka on the issue of nitrogen management. The Government will continue to monitor progress on the Colombo Declaration as this initiative develops.

Home Office

Electric Scooters: Confiscation Orders

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal e-scooters have been confiscated in (1) London, (2) Birmingham, and (3) other cities in England, in each of the last three months.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Information on numbers and types of vehicle seized is not held centrally.The Metropolitan Police seized over 1,000 scooters in June 2021.

Treasury

Pensions: Public Sector

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was invested by the (1) Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, (2) NHS Pension Scheme, (3) Teachers’ Pension Scheme, (4) Local Government Pension Scheme, (5) Firefighters’ Pension Scheme, and (6) Armed Forces Pension Scheme, into (a) Huawei Technologies Co., LTD., (b) Huawei Investment & Holding Co., LTD., and (c) Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., LTD, in the period between 2014 and 2020.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The main unfunded public service pension schemes have not invested in any of the mentioned companies. Most Public Service Pension schemes are unfunded Defined Benefit pension schemes, with the exception of the Local Government Pension Scheme. Members’ pension benefits are set out in statute and there is no fund of assets from which pension benefits are paid. Employer and employee contributions are paid to the relevant public service pension scheme, but these contributions are not invested. Instead, the public service pension scheme uses the contributions to meet the cost of pensions in payment. Where there is a difference between pensions in payment and total contributions, the difference is made up by HMT through Annually Managed Expenditure (AME). The Local Government Pension Scheme is a funded scheme in which all the assets are owned by the administering authorities, which are responsible for the management of their investments. The data requested is not held centrally.

Coronavirus Self-isolation Payment Scheme

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase self-isolation payment support once the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The purpose of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which will end on 30 September, is to support businesses to preserve employer-employee matches. Since the start of the scheme, the CJRS guidance has been clear that: “Short term illness or self-isolation should not be a consideration when deciding if [employers] should furlough an employee”. The government will continue to keep other elements of its Covid-19 response under review.

European Union: Finance

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the UK has paid to the EU since the 2016 referendum; how much they anticipate the UK will pay to the EU in the future; and for what purposes.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government publishes a summary of the UK’s financial relationship with the European Union in an annual report to Parliament by HM Treasury. The latest edition of the European Union Finances Statement has been laid before Parliament today, covering the calendar year 2020 as well as certain information for previous years. A copy is available in the Library of the House. The Statement reports the UK’s contributions to the EU Budget and public-sector receipts from the EU, in addition to receipts which flow directly to the private sector without being included in Government accounts. The EU Finances Statement provides the most complete analysis of the UK’s financial relationship with the EU. The European Union Finances Statement also includes an annex on the impact of EU Withdrawal, which provides an updated estimate of the total value of the financial settlement. The Statement explains all components of the outstanding net liability and provides an extended description of the assurance arrangements which will ensure the UK pays only what it owes under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many members there are of theTelecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council; and what their names are.

Baroness Barran: The membership is not fully decided yet, but many of the members of the Diversification Taskforce have agreed to continue providing expertise as part of the Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council. The Government will publish the full membership ahead of the first meeting in the autumn.

Telecommunications: China and Russia

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many companies in the UK telecommunications sector are estimated to be majority owned by Russian or Chinese entities.

Baroness Barran: The telecommunications sector includes tens of thousands of companies, including telecommunications providers, equipment providers and service providers in the supply chain. The Government does not monitor the nationality of the owners of each of these on a routine basis. The UK economy thrives, in part, as a result of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the Government therefore strives to be the premier destination for investment in the world. However, an open approach to international investment must include appropriate safeguards to protect our national security and the safety of our citizens. The new National Security & Investment Act introduces a new regime for reviewing and intervening in business transactions, such as takeovers, that might raise national security concerns. The Government has also recently introduced the Telecommunications (Security) Bill to establish an enhanced legislative framework for telecoms security, which includes new national security powers for the Secretary of State to manage the risks posed by high risk vendors.

Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council: Pay

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the salary of the chairof theTelecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council.

Baroness Barran: The work of the Advisory Council is non-remunerative. The Chair and all members have volunteered their time and effort.

Platinum Jubilee 2022

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure the Queen's Platinum Jubilee is celebrated across the UK.

Baroness Barran: Her Majesty’s Government is delighted to be working with Buckingham Palace to develop UK-wide opportunities to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.We are working closely with the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure that individuals, communities and organisations across the UK are able to come together to mark the occasion.A UK-wide Bank Holiday was announced on 12 November 2020 to enable communities across the UK to share in the celebrations together.

Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council: Public Appointments

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government who made thefinal decision on the appointment of Simon Blagden as chair of the Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council.

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport discussed the appointment of the new chair of theTelecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council with the Prime Minister before the announcement on 2 July.

Baroness Barran: Simon Blagden was formally appointed by Matt Warman MP, Minister for Digital Infrastructure. This was agreed through the usual public appointments procedure.

Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council: Public Appointments

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the appointment (1) criteria, and (2) process, for the chair of theTelecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council.

Baroness Barran: Simon Blagden, Chair of the Telecoms Supply Chain Advisory Council, was selected on the basis of having the skills and experience required for the role, with over 30 years experience in the telecoms and digital industries. He was appointed following the standard Government process for direct appointments, suitable for short term roles where an independent advisory function is filled. Appropriate due diligence and conflict of interest checks have been carried out. The Terms and Conditions which the Chair and members of the Advisory Council are expected to adhere to will be published on GOV.UK following the first meeting of the Advisory Council. The Council is advisory and there will be a wide ranging membership incorporating views from industry and academia.